Questions about purchasing a Nikonos v

[fstrecon8653]

Hey all, I’m interested in getting a “Nikonos V” off of e-bay. After watching for the last few weeks I see that the price range for a serviceable “ camera body and 35mm lens” varies greatly ($209-$400). What is a good price to pay for a good used body w/35mm, what would be a good price for a 15mm lens? What should I look for ,and is there any Camera Dealers on e-bay that I should stay clear of ?
Thanks in advance

 

[oly5050user]

Hey all, I’m interested in getting a “Nikonos V” off of e-bay. After watching for the last few weeks I see that the price range for a serviceable “ camera body and 35mm lens” varies greatly ($209-$400). What is a good price to pay for a good used body w/35mm, what would be a good price for a 15mm lens? What should I look for ,and is there any Camera Dealers on e-bay that I should stay clear of ?
Thanks in advance

with digital being so hot in demand I would think a used nik 5 w/35mm lens to be around $200.-$250. A 15mm lens most likely will get $500-$600.or more.You will also need to get a 15mm viewfinder to compose images.Do not get me wrong,a nik 5 with 15mm lens with a proper strobe is a hard system to beat.
At those prices though you can get a new digital nikon p5100 and a ikelite housing for
around $850.
Then add a wal for $300. and strobe when you are ready.

 

[mudhole]

Hey all, I’m interested in getting a “Nikonos V” off of e-bay. . . . “ camera body and 35mm lens” varies greatly ($209-$400). What is a good price to pay for a good used body w/35mm, Thanks in advance

Now is not a good time to buy the Nikonos V, without doing some homework first. Where are you going to get the "annual" service? Throughout the 20 years or so, that the camera has been available, the annual replacement of the O rings was the only dependable way to keep the camera dry. Yes there are some that would be lucky and get a second year without a flood, but a lot of divers lost that bet and repair costs were usually $500+. I've had two and one camera never leaked. The camera was 13 years old when it was stolen. I wouldn't buy it back for any price because of its age.

Many of the Nikonos repair shops will no longer work on them, they sell new digital cameras for what a repair cost would be. I have friends that have the 15mm lens, and none of them have used them in the last 5 years. Digital has taken over. . .

 

[OceanObsessed]

....Where are you going to get the "annual" service?

Underwater camera repair by Southern Nikonos

 

[fstrecon8653]

Now is not a good time to buy the Nikonos V, without doing some homework first. Where are you going to get the "annual" service? Throughout the 20 years or so, that the camera has been available, the annual replacement of the O rings was the only dependable way to keep the camera dry. Yes there are some that would be lucky and get a second year without a flood, but a lot of divers lost that bet and repair costs were usually $500+. I've had two and one camera never leaked. The camera was 13 years old when it was stolen. I wouldn't buy it back for any price because of its age.

Many of the Nikonos repair shops will no longer work on them, they sell new digital cameras for what a repair cost would be. I have friends that have the 15mm lens, and none of them have used them in the last 5 years. Digital has taken over. . .

Mudhole, I realize digital has taken over; I wasn't looking to debate that fact. I have a Digital camera and I like it. However I used the Nikonos V in the early 90s while I was in the Corps and found it to be a good solid camera. If it could stand up to Marines beating the crap out of it, its good enough for me. Also I realize that it’s an aging camera that’s why I created this thread in order to do “My Homework” and to find out if there was a typical problem that I needed to be aware of. I didn’t start the thread to start a digital VS film debate nor whether I should buy one or not. Your opinion and advice is noted but I simply wanted one as a good backup camera. Thanks

 

[OceanObsessed]

fstrecon8653,
I own a big housed digital DSLR and I also still use my Nikonos V often too. I still find the Nikonos very useful. The Nikonos is small and easy to carry and almost indestructable. I carry them on boats, on my kayak, on my sunfish sailboat, into the surf with my kids, the pool and sometimes I prefer the Nikonos over my big digital rig when freediving because it is alot easier to carry compared to a bulky housed DSLR.
-Chris

 

[fstrecon8653]

Oceanobsessed,
I’m pretty new to underwater photography gig. I mainly got into it last summer to take pictures of students (they love it) and to document my friends and I on our dives to the Battleship Mutsu. However the more pictures I take the more I get hooked and want to learn. A friend of mine from Okinawa (and a great U/W Photographer in his own rite) told me that a lot of Pro U/W photographers use the Nikonos V as a back up and to get a shot or two that the digital can’t focus on, so I figured I’d pick one up while I had a few extra dollars. Sounds like as long as the O-rings are changed and serviced annually that there shouldn’t be a problem. Thanks for your help and for the link to the Southern Nikonos site.

 

[ScubaBasics]

Check with Sub Aquatic Camera Repair in Salinas Ca. Dan usually has good,serviced cameras for sale.
Sub Aquatic Camera, Service, Sales and Repair of Underwater Camera Equipment
(831) 484-6230

 

[TheUWPhotographer.com]

You can do a search of the complete auctions on ebay (must be logged in) to see what they are selling for. Looks like most are going between $180-$230. Very few sold for more than that. There are a lot of people trying to sell them now, regardless of condition so I would ask the seller how much the camera has been used, if its ever been flooded or had water leaks, and when was the last time it was serviced. If the camera hasn't been serviced in over a year you should send it in to have it checked out before you use it. This can add another $100++ to your price tag. The lenses can flood too so I would ask the same questions if you do find a lens for sale.

Sometimes I contact the sellers of items that didn't sell and make an offer. It never hurts to ask.

You might check with Underwater Photo Tech who is an authorized repair center for Nikonos. They might even have some recently serviced used cameras and lenses. I've sent my gear to all the service centers around the US at some point and found Fred to be the most pleasant to work with. They have also done excellent work on my gear. Can't say that about some Pacific Camera (don't know if they are still in business) or Southern Nikonos. The guy in the SF area was pretty good too.

Bonnie

 

[alcina]

I've got three Nik Vs sitting on my shelf right now...I guess I should sell them as they don't get much action anymore.

PM if interested coz I'm slack and will likely never get them up on ebay LOL